Author
-George Orwell
-Actual name was Eric Blair, Orwell was a pen name
Style
-The style in animal farm is simple, yet comprehensive, creating a satire, using irony often. It is also an allegory, using symbolism and allusion to illustrate an image of the Animal farm.
Tone -The tone in animal farm starts off without much direct meaning in the story, until it eventually transforms into an irony, in relation to the commandments of the animals and how the pigs slowly change them.
Purpose -The purpose of Animal Farm is similar to that of 1984, in that it is a warning of what can happen when one party is given too much power. It is also an example of how ignorance can cause others to be mislead, and how knowledge can be a powerful weapon.
Historical Context
-World War II
-Russia's government was Communist (the U.S.S.R)
-George Orwell frowned upon the Soviet Union's communist rule, even though many British socialists supported it
Notable Points of Discussion
-Most of the characters represent figures that played important roles in Russian Communism
Any Literary Terms or Rhetorical Devices that Categorize the Work
-Allegory
Character List: Old Major Dying pig who inspires the animal uprising. Old Major as a Symbol.He represents Vladimir Ilich Lenin, who founded the Russian Communist Party and led the 1917 Russian Revolution. Napoleon Ruthless, power-hungry pig who eventually seizes control of Animal Farm and abolishes the idealistic rules of government. Napoleon as a Symbol.Napoleon represents the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, who succeeded Lenin and ruled with an iron fist. He also represents any tyrant of any age, such as Nero, Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, or Pol Pot. Snowball Intelligent pig who helps establish animalism. Seeing Snowball as a rival for power, Napoleon ousts him. Snowball as Symbol.Snowball represents Leon Trotsky, the Communist theorist who helped bring about the 1917 Russian Revolution but was later expelled by Stalin. Squealer Napoleon’s clever propagandist. Squealer as Symbol.Squealer represents anyone who distorts the truth or tells outright lies to promote a cause. Paul Joseph Goebbels (1897-1945), director of propaganda under Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany, was a real-life counterpart of Squealer. Mr. Jones Cruel and neglectful farmer whom the animals overthrow. Mr. Jones as Symbol.He represents Russia before the 1917 revolution. Individually, he represents Czar Nicholas II (1868-1918), the autocratic ruler who was overthrown in the Russian Revolution of 1917. Mr. Frederick Operator of neighboring Pinchfield farm. He attacks Animal Farm but is repulsed. Mr. Frederick as Symbol.He appears to represent Adolf Hitler, whose forces attacked the Soviet Union in World War II but were defeated. Boxer Hard-working cart horse. Boxer as Symbol.He represents the common people oppressed and manipulated by Joseph Stalin and his Communist henchmen. Benjamin Old donkey on Animal Farm. Benjamin as Symbol.He appears to represent realists who know that the Russian Revolution will not change anything. Mollie Mare who enjoyed the attentions of human beings. Mollie as Symbol.Mollie appears to represent the manipulated masses that are easily satisfied with small rewards that keep that satisfied The Attack Dogs Napoleon's private bodyguard and police force. The Attack Dogs as Symbols They represent the secret police of totalitarian societies, such as the Soviet Union's Komitet Gosudarstvennoj Bezopasnosti (Committee of State Security, known by the abbreviation KGB) and Nazi Germany's Geheime Staats Polizei (Secret State Police, known by the acronym Gestapo). Various Other Animals
Welcome to the Animal Farm
Author
-George Orwell
-Actual name was Eric Blair, Orwell was a pen name
Style
-The style in animal farm is simple, yet comprehensive, creating a satire, using irony often. It is also an allegory, using symbolism and allusion to illustrate an image of the Animal farm.
Tone
-The tone in animal farm starts off without much direct meaning in the story, until it eventually transforms into an irony, in relation to the commandments of the animals and how the pigs slowly change them.
Purpose
-The purpose of Animal Farm is similar to that of 1984, in that it is a warning of what can happen when one party is given too much power. It is also an example of how ignorance can cause others to be mislead, and how knowledge can be a powerful weapon.
Historical Context
-World War II
-Russia's government was Communist (the U.S.S.R)
-George Orwell frowned upon the Soviet Union's communist rule, even though many British socialists supported it
Notable Points of Discussion
-Most of the characters represent figures that played important roles in Russian Communism
Any Literary Terms or Rhetorical Devices that Categorize the Work
-Allegory
Character List: Old Major Dying pig who inspires the animal uprising.
Old Major as a Symbol.He represents Vladimir Ilich Lenin, who founded the Russian Communist Party and led the 1917 Russian Revolution.
Napoleon Ruthless, power-hungry pig who eventually seizes control of Animal Farm and abolishes the idealistic rules of government.
Napoleon as a Symbol.Napoleon represents the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, who succeeded Lenin and ruled with an iron fist. He also represents any tyrant of any age, such as Nero, Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, or Pol Pot.
Snowball Intelligent pig who helps establish animalism. Seeing Snowball as a rival for power, Napoleon ousts him.
Snowball as Symbol.Snowball represents Leon Trotsky, the Communist theorist who helped bring about the 1917 Russian Revolution but was later expelled by Stalin.
Squealer Napoleon’s clever propagandist.
Squealer as Symbol.Squealer represents anyone who distorts the truth or tells outright lies to promote a cause. Paul Joseph Goebbels (1897-1945), director of propaganda under Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany, was a real-life counterpart of Squealer.
Mr. Jones Cruel and neglectful farmer whom the animals overthrow.
Mr. Jones as Symbol.He represents Russia before the 1917 revolution. Individually, he represents Czar Nicholas II (1868-1918), the autocratic ruler who was overthrown in the Russian Revolution of 1917.
Mr. Frederick Operator of neighboring Pinchfield farm. He attacks Animal Farm but is repulsed.
Mr. Frederick as Symbol.He appears to represent Adolf Hitler, whose forces attacked the Soviet Union in World War II but were defeated.
Boxer Hard-working cart horse.
Boxer as Symbol.He represents the common people oppressed and manipulated by Joseph Stalin and his Communist henchmen.
Benjamin Old donkey on Animal Farm.
Benjamin as Symbol.He appears to represent realists who know that the Russian Revolution will not change anything.
Mollie Mare who enjoyed the attentions of human beings.
Mollie as Symbol.Mollie appears to represent the manipulated masses that are easily satisfied with small rewards that keep that satisfied
The Attack Dogs Napoleon's private bodyguard and police force.
The Attack Dogs as Symbols They represent the secret police of totalitarian societies, such as the Soviet Union's Komitet Gosudarstvennoj Bezopasnosti (Committee of State Security, known by the abbreviation KGB) and Nazi Germany's Geheime Staats Polizei (Secret State Police, known by the acronym Gestapo).
Various Other Animals